Hydraulic control gate



July 26, 1960 A. E. WlLDE HYDRAULIC CONTROL GATE 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 Filed Sept. 9, 1957 IN V EN TOR.

WHANN d MCMAN/GAL flfrorney: for lI z zI/can I A/FTf/l/A E. W/L DE,

Unit tats tent HYDRAULIC CONTROL GATE Filed Sept. 9, 1957, Ser. No. 682,821

13 Claims. (Cl. 251-1) This invention relates generally to equipment used in drilling wells and relates more particularly to deep well pressure control equipment.

While the present invention has particular utility in connection with hydraulic control gates used in connection with the drilling of wells of the above character, and is shown and described in such connection, it is to be understood, of course, that its utility is not confined thereto.

Equipment of this character includes heavy elements or parts which are difiicult to handle when inner control ram assemblies are to be installed, removed or otherwise attended to and it is an object of the present invention to provide hydraulic control gates wherein this difiiculty is minimized.

In this equipment the hydraulic control cylinders are at the respective ends of the gate body and are carried by end caps which are hinged to said gate body. The cap and cylinder assemblies are secured tightly to the gate body by means of bolts and when the ram assemblies are to be removed or installed or otherwise attended to, the

bolts are removed and the caps with their respective cylin- I ders' are swung on their hinges to an open position. When thus positioned, it is often necessary to slidably move the ram assemblies to remove same or to install same and such movements may be quite difficult to effect. It is, therefore, another object of the invention to provide, in

equipment of this character, means whereby the hydraulic pressure fluid to said cylinders is connected thereto at all times whether the cap and cylinder assemblies are in the closed or opened position.

It is another object of the invention to provide apparatus of this character wherein the loss of pressure fluid, when the cap and cylinder assemblies are opened, is prevented.

Another object of the invention is to provide a control unit wherein the ram assemblies and power units therefor may be readily swung to an open position whenever it is desired to install or remove said ram assemblies.

A still further object of the invention is to provide apparatus of this character that is relatively simple in construction and relatively inexpensive to manufacture.

A further object of the invention is to provide apparatus of this character wherein servicing of the apparatus is simplified and wherein the time required for such servicing and the cost thereof is minimized.

The characteristics and advantages of the invention are further sufliciently referred to in connection with the following detailed description of the accompanying drawings with respect to one arrangement. After considering this example, skilled persons will understand that variations may be made without departing from the principles disclosed and any structures, arrangements or. modes of operation that are properly within the scope of the appended. claims are contemplated.

Referring, to the drawings:

Fig. 1 is a side elevation of the hydraulic control gate 2 embodying the present invention, a portion being broken away to show the interior construction of certain parts;

Fig. 2 is an enlarged longitudinal section through an end cap and associated power unit which actuates' a ram assembly;

Fig. 3 is an enlarged sectional view taken on line 3-3 of Fig. 2;

Fig. 4 is a longitudinal section taken on line 4-4 of Fig. 2; and V Fig. 5 is a transverse section through the central portion of the cap, showing the rails carried thereby. I

Referring more particularly to the drawings, there is shown a single hydraulic control gate having a body, indicated generally at 10. Body 10 has upwardly and downwardly extending, centrally located, cylindrical parts 11 with enlarged flanges 12 at their respective free ends, said flanges having bolt holes, not shown, whereby they may be attached to adjacent pieces of well equipment or apparatus, also not shown. There is a bore hole 14 extending vertically through the body 10, parts 11 and flanges 12 for axial passage of tools or pipes or the like, not shown, said bore hole 14 being intersected by a transverse, elongated, relatively shallow chamber 15 which extends from one end of the body 10 to the other and is open at said ends. Operably disposed within the end portions of said chamber 15 are ram assemblies 16, which are adapted to slide therein toward and away from said bore hole.

Closing the respective ends of said chamber 15 are end caps 18 hinged at one side to the respective adjacent ends of said body by hinges v19, more particularly described hereinaften r r The end caps '18 are of similar construction so that a description of one will sufiice. Each cap has a concavoconvex wall .184: so that the interior of said cap is concave in a horizontal plane and forms a pocket 18b, Fig. 2. Extending outwardly from the central portion of the wall 18a is a reduced portion 18c at the outer end of whichis a flange 20. To the flange 20 is secured a power unit, indicated generally at 25, said power unit comprising a cylinder block 26 having flanges 27 at the inner ends and. flanges 28 at the outer ends. The flanges 20 and 27 are provided with aligned openings therein, the flanges 20 being tapped for threadable reception of cap screws 29 whereby the flanges 20 and 27 are secured together and the cylinder block attached to the cap 18.. Within the cylinder block 26 there is a cylinder 30 which extends from one end of said cylinder block to the other and there is' a cylinder head 31 secured to the flanges 28 of the cylinder block by means of screws 32 thereby closing the outer end offthe cylinder 30. Within the cylinder 30 there is slidably received a piston 33 having a piston ring 34 disposed in an annular, peripheral groove provided there for in said piston 33. The piston is also provided with an inner reduced diameter portion 35 and an outer reduced diameter portion 36, the former limiting inward movement of the piston by engagement with the outer end .of the cap and also providing an annular chamber about said reduced diameter portion 35, and between the adjacent part of the cap and the adjacent Wall of the cylinder 30 when said piston is at the inner limit. of movement- .The reduced diameter portion 36 of the piston limits outward movement of said piston by engagement with then'nner surfaceof the cylinder head 31 and provides an annular chamber 37 about said reduced diameter portion 36, said cylinder head 31 and the adjacent wall of the cylinder 30 when said piston is at its outer limit of movement.

Aram shaft 38. extends axially from the reduced diameter portion 35. through a bore 39 provided therefor in the wall. 18a of the. cap, said bore 39' being at the inner end of the cap and at. the inner end of an enlarged recess 40 open at the outer end of said cap. Within the recess 40 is a collar 41 held in place at the inner end portion of the recess 40 by means of a snap ring 42 received in an annular groove 43 provided therefor in the wall of said recess -40.- The collar 41 is provided with inner and outer seals, such as O rings 44 and 46 respectively to prevent loss of hydraulic fluid from the adjacent portion of the cylinder 30 into the pocket 18b and chamber 15. It should be noted that there is a seal 47 between the cylinder block and the cap, said seal being received in an annular recess provided therefor in the inner end of said cylinder block. There'is also a seal 48 between the cylinder head 31 and the outer end of the cylinder block, said seal being disposed in an annular groove provided therefor in said cylinder head.

- At the inner end of said ram shaft 38 there are ppositely extending arcuate arms 50 provided at its forward or inner end with an arcuate upstanding wall 60, which is centrally spaced from the inner end of the ram shaft 38 to provide an arcuate groove 51. When the piston 33 is at its outer limit of movement the arms 50 are disposed within the chamber or pocket 18b of the cap 18. The cap is provided with a plurality of horizontal rails 54 which project from the inner side of the cap, Fig. and when the cap is in the closed position the rails are received in space provided therefor in the adjacent ends of the body as shown in my copending application for a hinged cap, Cellar Production Gate, Serial No. 423,938, filed April 19, 1954. It is to be noted that the arms 50 also rest on said rails when said arms are in the outer or retracted position.

Ram block assembly 16 includes a ram block 55 having an outer end portion 56 of reduced width and at the outer side or end of said reduced width portion 56 there is an outwardly extending flange 57 having a downwardly extending tongue portion 58 to define a downwardly opening groove 59. The outer end of the flange 57 and depending portion 58 curve arcuately and are provided with substantially the same curvature as that of the pocket 18b so as to be accommodated therein. When the ram assembly is attached to the ram shaft 38 the depending portion 58 of the ram block is received on the arms 50 behind the wall 60 and the central part is received in the groove 51, said upstanding wall 60 along the free edge of the arms 50 being received in the groove 59 which has the same curvature as the groove 51 and wall 60 of said arms 50. It is to be noted that the ends of the groove 59 are closed by walls 61 of the ram block so as to maintain the ram assembly in proper alignment with the ram shaft 38 and the chambers 15.

When the ram assembly is at its outermost position the portion 56 of the ram block is disposed within the pocket 18b of the cap and said assembly rests upon the rails 54. The rails 54 thus support the ram assembly whether the cap is in the closed or the open position.

The hinge for each cap comprism a pair of binge members 60a which are spaced axially apart and have axially aligned bores 61a therein, said hinge parts 60a being integral with the body 10, although they may be separate parts secured to said body by screws or other suitable means. Each cap is provided with a central hinge part 62 which has a bore 63 therein aligned with the bores 61a. A hinge pin 65 is disposed in the bores 61a and 63 of each hinge and said hinge pin is secured by means of upper and lower snap rings 66 received in annular grooves provided therefor in the respective end portions of said pin 65. Pin 65 has an upper axial bore 67 and a lower axial bore 68 separated at their inner ends by a wall 69 and closed at their respective outer ends by plugs 70 which may be press fitted, welded or otherwise secured in said bores.

The body 10 is provided with a pair of manifolds 75 and 76 which may be formed integrally therewith and spaced apart, said manifolds having fluid passages 77 and 78 therethrough with ports 77a and 78a adapted to be connected to a source of pressure fluid. One of the manifolds, such as manifo1d76, for example, is connected to the inner end of cylinder 30. The passage 78 of said manifold 76 is connected to an annular exterior groove 79 in the lower end of pin 65, a port 80 connecting the groove 79 with the pin bore 68. The latter bore communicates with a port 81 which in turn connects with an annular groove 82 adjacent the upper end of the bore 67. Groove 82 is connected with a passage 83 through the central hinge member 62, and cap 18 and terminates at the inner end of cylinder 38. It is to be noted that the reduced diameter portion 35 of the piston is adapted, when said piston is at its innermost position, to space said piston sufficiently from the adjacent end of the cap which closes the inner end of said cylinder 30 so that pressure fluid may flow into the cylinder 30 at the inner side of the piston 33 and about said portion 35, or flow out of said cylinder depending upon the direction of movement of said piston.

Passage 77 of manifold 76 communicates with an annular external groove 86 in the upper end of the pin 65, said groove 86 communicating with the upper bore 67 by means of a port 87. Adjacent the lower end, bore 67 communicates with an exterior annular groove 88 in said pin by means of a port 89 and said groove 88 is connected to the outer end of cylinder 30 by means of a passage 90 which extends through the central hinge member, cap 18, cylinder block 26 and cylinder head 31, as best shown in Fig. 2.

It is to be understood that pressure fluid to the cylinder is controlled by the usual valve means and when fluid pressure is supplied to one end of the cylinder 30 fluid from the opposite end is exhausted to a lower pressure region so as not to interfere with the proper operation of the power mechanism.

Assuming the gate is assembled and the caps are secured in the closed position, and it is desired to remove, replace or service a ram, the latter must be in the outermost position. The screws securing the cap of said ram are removed and the cap swung outwardly on its hinge. The ram assembly is then supported by the bottom of the pocket 18b and by the rails 54. Inasmuch as the part 56 of the ram block, when the ram assembly is at said outermost position, is disposed within the pocket 18b it is necessary, in order to remove the ram assembly from the arms 50, to move said ram assembly outwardly of the pocket so as to provide clearance for the part or portion 56. This is effected by supplying pressure fluid from the source of pressure through the passage 78, respective hinge 19 and passage 90 into the outer end of the cylinder 30. This pressure fluid will move the piston in a direction to effect movement of the ram assembly outwardly of the pocket 18b until the flange 57 is clear of the pocket, fluid from the opposite end of said cylinder leaving same by way of passage 83, hinge groove 82, port 81, bore 68, port 80, groove 79 and passage 78. The ram assembly is, of course, still supported by the rails 54 and may be lifted from engagement with the arms 50.

In order to replace the ram assembly, the arms 50 must be positioned outwardly of the pocket a suflicient amount to permit the depending portion 58 of the flange 57 to be disposed on said arms and in the groove 51 and at the same time the wall 60 inserted into the groove 59. When the ram assembly is thus attached to the ram shaft said assembly is, of course, supported by the rails 54. After attaching the ram assembly to the ram shaft pressure fluid is supplied to the opposite end of the cylinder 30 for moving the piston outwardly and drawing the outer ends of the ram assembly into the pocket 18b.

Fluid from the outer end of the cylinder 30 will flow through the passage 90, said hinge, and manifold 76. It will be obvious that the power unit may be operated whether the cap is secured in the closed position or is in an open position and that there will be no leakage of pressure fluid when the cap is in any of said positions.

It is thought that the invention and many of its attendant advantages will be understood from the foregoing description and it is thought that it will be apparent that various changes may be made in the form, construction and arrangement of the parts of the invention without departing from the spirit and scope thereof or sacrificing all of its material advantages, the arrangement hereinbefore described being merely for purposes of illustration.

I claim:

1. A ram gate assembly, including: a body having a flow hole from top to bottom and a gate chamber extending laterally from said hole and opening outwardly at the ends; a cap provided with an interior, semicircular pocket in the outer wall thereof; horizontal rails on the inner side of said cap and carried thereby; a hinge pivotally mounting said cap to the adjacent end of said body; a cylinder secured to the outer side of said cap; a piston slidably mounted in said cylinder and movable to retracted and extended positions; a ram shaft having one end connected to said piston and the opposite end extending into said pocket, oppositely extending arcuate arms on the end of said shaft extending into said pocket, said arms forming an arcuate member having an arcuate upstanding wall along the free edge, there being a central groove between said wall and the adjacent end of said ram shaft; a ram assembly supported on said rails when adjacent said cap, said assembly including a ram block holder having an arcuate, downwardly opening groove into which said wall is removably received, the groove of said ram block being defined at the outer end thereof by a downwardly extending arcuate tongue removably received on said arms and in the groove of said arms; end walls closing the ends of the groove in theram block holder; and manifolds for pressure fluid formed on said body and having fluid passages therein, there being respective passages through said hinge connected with said manifold passages respectively and also connected to opposite ends of said cylinder so that said cylinder may be provided with pressure fluid for actuating said piston regardless of the pivotal position of said cap.

2,. A ram gate assembly, including: a body having a flow hole from top to bottom and a gate chamber extending laterally from said hole and opening outwardly at its ends; a cap provided with an interior, semicircular pocket in the wall thereof; horizontal rails on the inner side of said cap and carried thereby; a hinge pivotally mounting said cap to the adjacent end of said body; a cylinder secured to the outer side of said cap; a piston slidably mounted in said cylinder and movable to retracted and extended positions; a ram shaft having one end connected to said'piston and the opposite end extending into said pocket, oppositely extending arcuate arms on the end of said shaft extending into said pocket, said arms forming an arcuate member having an arcuate wall at the free end thereof defining an arcuate groove; a ram assembly supported on said rails when adjacent said cap, said assembly including a ram block holder having an arcuate, downwardly extending arcuate tongue removably received on said arms and in said groove; said tongue being spaced from the adjacent end of the ram block holder and defin ing therewith an arcuate groove in which the arcuate wall at the free end of the arcuate member is received, end walls closing the ends of said groove in the ram block holder; and pressure fluid passage means integral with said body and connected by means of respective passages through said hinge and further passages to opposite ends of said cylinder so that said cylinder may be provided with pressure fluid for actuating said piston regardless of the pivotal position of said cap.

3. In a ram gate assembly: a body having a flow hole from top to bottom and a gate chamber extending laterally from said hole and opening outwardly at its ends;

"6 a cap provided with an interior, semicircular pocket in the wall thereof; horizontal rails carried on the inner side of said cap; a hinge pivotally mounting said cap to the adjacent end of said body; a cylinder secured to the outer side of said cap; a piston slidably mounted in said cylinder and movable to retracted and extended positions; a ram shaft having one end connected to said piston and the opposite end extending into said pocket, oppositely extending arcuate arms on the end of said shaft extending into said pocket, said arms forming an arcuate connecting member; a ram assembly supported on said rails when adjacent said cap and having an'outer part receivable into said pocket, said assembly including a ram block holder having a part adapted to be placed on said connecting member for connection therewith and liftable therefrom; and passage means, including passages through said hinge, connected to opposite ends of said cylinder so that said cylinder may be provided with pressure fluid for actuating said piston whether the cap is in the closed or open position.

4. In a ram gate assembly: a body having a flow hole from top to bottom and a gate chamber extending laterally from said hole and opening outwardly atthe ends; a cap provided with an interior pocket in thewall thereof; horizontal rails carried by said cap on the inner side thereof; a hinge pivotally mounting said'cap'to the adjacent end of said body; a cylinder secured to the outer side of said cap; a piston slidably mounted in said cylinder and movable to retracted and extended positions; a, ram shaft having one end connected to said piston and the opposite end extending into said pocket and provided with an arcuate connecting member having an arcuately extending upwardly opening groove therein defined at the free end by an arcuate wall; a ram assembly supported on said rails when adjacent said cap, said assembly 'including'a ram block holder having an arcuate, downwardly opening groove into which said wall is removably received, the groove of said ram block being defined at the outer end thereof by a downwardly extending arcuate tongue removably received in the groove of said connecting member; means keeping the ram block holder aligned with said ram shaft; pressure fluid passage means connected respectively by means of respective passages through said hinge, with opposite ends of said cylinder so that said ends of the cylinder may be selectively provided with pressure fluid for actuating said piston regardless of the pivotal position of said cap.

5. In a ram gate assembly: a body having a flow hole from top to bottom and a gate chamber extending laterally from said hole and opening outwardly at the ends; a cap provided with an interior pocket in the wall thereof; horizontal rails carried by said cap on the inner side thereof; a hinge pivotally mounting said cap to the adjacent end of said body; a cylinder secured to the outer side of said cap; a piston slidably mounted in said cylinder and movable to retracted and extended positions; a ram shaft having one end connected to said piston and the opposite end extending into said pocket and provided with a connecting member having an upwardly opening groove therein defined at the free end by an upstanding Wall; a ram assembly supported on said rails whenadjacent said cap, said assembly including a ram block holder having a downwardly opening groove into which said wall is removably received, the groove of said, ram, block being defined at the outer end thereof by a downwardly extending tongue removably received in the groove of said connecting member; means keeping the ram block holder aligned with said ram shaft; and pressure fluid passage means including respective passages through said hinge, with opposite ends of said cylinder so that said ends of said cylinder may be selectively provided with pressure fluid for actuating said piston in both directions regardless of the pivotal position of said cap.

6. In a ram gate assembly: a body having a flow hole from top to bottom and a gate chamber extending laterally from said hole and opening outwardly at the ends; a cap provided with an interior pocket in the wall thereof; horizontal rails carried by said cap on the inner side thereof; a hinge pivotally mounting said cap to the adjacent end of said body; a cylinder secured to the outer side of said cap; a piston slidably mounted in said cylinder and movable to retracted and extended positions; a ram shaft having one end connected to said piston and the opposite end extending into said pocket and provided with a connecting member having an upwardly opening groove therein defined at the free end by an upstanding wall; a ram assembly supported on said rails when adjacent said cap, said assembly including a ram block holder having a downwardly opening groove into which said wall is removably received, the groove of said ram block being defined at the outer end thereof by a downwardly extending tongue removably received in the groove of said connecting member; and pressure fluid passage means through said hinge connected with opposite ends of said cylinder so that said cylinder may be selectively provided with pressure fluid for actuating said piston.

7. In a ram gate assembly: a body having a flow hole from top to bottom and a gate chamber extending laterally from said hole and opening outwardly at the ends; a cap at each end of said chamber, each cap being provided with an interior pocket in the wall thereof; horizontal rails carried by each cap on the inner side thereof; hinges pivotally mounting said caps to respective ends of said body; a cylinder secured to the outer side of each cap; a piston slidably mounted in each cylinder and movable to retracted and extended positions; a ram shaft for each piston, having one end connected to said piston and the opposite end extending into the pocket of the respective cap and provided with a connecting member having an upstanding wall along the free edge; a ram assembly for each end of said chamber and supported on the rails of a respective cap when adjacent said cap, each assembly including a ram block holder having a downwardly opening groove into which the wall of a respective connecting member is removably received, the groove of said ram block being defined at the outer end thereof by a downwardly extending tongue removably received behind the wall of said connecting member; and pressure fluid passage means, including passages through said hinges connected with opposite ends of said cylinders.

8. In a ram gate assembly: a body having a flow hole from top to bottom and a gate chamber extending laterally from said hole and opening outwardly at the ends; a cap; horizontal rails carried by said cap on the inner side thereof; a hinge pivotally connecting said cap to the adjacent end of said body; a cylinder secured to said cap; a piston slidably mounted in said cylinder and movable to retracted and extended positions; a ram shaft having one end connected to said piston and the opposite end extending through the wall of said cap and provided with an upwardly opening groove therein defined at the free end by an upstanding wall; a ram assembly supported on said rails when adjacent said cap, said assembly including a ram block holder having a downwardly opening groove into which said wall is removably received, the groove of said ram block being defined at the outer end thereof by a downwardly extending tongue removably received in said upwardly opening groove; and pressure fluid passage means through said hinge connected respectivelywith opposite ends of said cylinder.

9. In a ram gate assembly: a body having a flow hole from top to bottom and a gate chamber extending laterally from said hole and opening outwardly at the ends; a cap provided with an interior pocket in the wall thereof; horizontal rails carried by said cap on the inner side thereof; a hinge pivotally mounting said cap to the adjacent end of said body; a reversible fluid motor secured to the outer side of said cap; a ram assembly supported on said rails when adjacent said cap, said assembly including a ram block holder; a part actuated by said fluid motor, said part and said ram block holder having interconnecting parts connectible by placing said ram block holder thereon and vice versa; and pressure fluid passage means through said hinge connected with said fluid motor for providing selective actuation thereof in either direction.

10. In a ram gate assembly: a body having a flow hole from top to bottom and a gate chamber extending laterally frorn said hole and opening outwardly at the ends; a cap; horizontal rails carried by said cap on the inner side thereof; a hinge pivotally securing said cap to the adjacent end of said body; a fluid motor secured to said cap; a ram assembly supported on said rails when adjacent said cap; means releasably connecting said ram assembly to said fluid motor; and pressure fluid passage means through said hinge connected with said motor for selectively supplying fluid pressure thereto for actuating same in opposite directions.

ll. In a ram gate assembly: a body having a flow hole from top to bottom and a gate chamber extending laterally from said hole and opening outwardly at its ends; a cap; a hinge pivotally connecting said cap to the adjacent end of said body; a fluid motor secured to said cap; a ram assembly; means releasably connecting said ram assembly to said fluid motor; and pressure fluid passage means through said hinge connected with said motor for supplying fluid pressure thereto for selective actuation of same in opposite directions.

12. In a ram gate assembly: a body having a flow hole from top to bottom and a gate chamber extending laterally from said hole and opening outwardly at the ends thereof; a cap; a hinge pivotally connecting said cap to the adjacent end of said body; a fluid motor secured to said cap; a ram assembly; means connecting said ram assembly to said fluid motor; and pressure fluid passage means through said hinge connected with said motor for supplying fluid pressure thereto for actuation of same in opposite directions.

13. In a ram gate assembly: a body having a flow hole from top to bottom and a gate chamber extending laterally from said hole and opening outwardly at the end thereof; a cap for said outwardly opening end; a hinge pivotally connecting said cap to the adjacent end of said body; a fluid motor secured to said cap; and pressure fluid passage means through said hinge connected with said motor for supplying fluid pressure thereto for actuation of same.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 581,917 Munz May 4, 1897 2,044,590 Neuhaus June 16, 1936 2,174,964 Burdick Oct. 3, 1939 FOREIGN PATENTS 395,617 Germany of 192A- 

